Redeeming the Time in 2015 - By Tucker Whitaker - http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/wc6.html
The following excerpt is from the message, "Do You Know What Time It Is?" by Dr. Ray Pritchard.
Dr. Pritchard writes:
Paul challenges his readers, "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first" (Romans 13:11 NKJV). Do you know what time it is? It's time to wake up! Why? "Because salvation is nearer than when we first believed." That's a reference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming, and each day brings us closer to that great world-shattering event.
In light of that, Paul tells us to wake up, put off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. The long night is fading away, the sun is peeking over the eastern horizon, and Jesus is coming soon! Christian, do you know what time it is? It's time to wake-up and get dressed. This is something we must know!
"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light" (Romans13:11-12).
What "time" is Paul talking about in verse 11 and what "hour" does he mean? He means that this present age is sinful and dark and ultimately passing away (Galatians 1:4). It won't last forever (1 John 2:17).
Colossians 1:12-13 uses the image of darkness and light in many places to explain what happens when someone becomes a Christian. They are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Do you know what being saved is like? It's like living in the darkness for twenty or thirty or forty years and suddenly the lights come on.
What time is it right now? Check your watch and see. Now read verse 11 again and answer the question.
What time is it? It's time to wake-up. You sleep at night. You don't sleep during the day. All of us understand what that means. It's hard to sleep during the day. It doesn't feel right. It's not natural. Day is for waking and working; night is for sleeping and dreaming.
Why does Paul say that the long night is over and the day has come? Because the coming of the Lord is at hand. How near is it? Very near indeed. When Billy Graham preaches on the Second Coming, he often tells the story of a grandfather clock whose chimes rang every hour, once for one o'clock, twice for two o'clock, and so on. One night the clock malfunctioned, causing the chimes to ring thirteen times. A little boy heard it and raced through the house yelling "Get up, everyone get up. It's later than it's ever been." How true that is. It's later than it's ever been, and we're closer to the coming of Christ than ever before.
Words of Grace for Strength
We are about to enter into a new year. The year 2015 is nearly upon us. And we will begin anew the process of counting down the 365 days of the year. What will this New Year hold for you? What will transpire in the world which will affect your life? As each year passes we grow closer to the time in which Jesus Christ will return for His church, when the time of Tribulation will envelop the earth, and ultimately when Christ will return in power and great glory to defeat Satan and establish His Kingdom reign.
Knowing this, we are aware that the day in which we live is still very dark. Satan, as the ruler of this present world is still doing everything he can to exercise control over world events. It is his plan to subvert the cause of Christ, to marginalize the church by watering down its message and commitment, and to cause derision and persecution to fall on the true church.
Yet even in this dark day, we still have the light of the gospel. When the gospel light meets the darkness it destroys its hold and power over those who have experienced it. Ephesians 5:15-16 and Colossians 4:5 encourage us to redeem the time. As we enter into 2015 we should take this admonition of the apostle Paul to heart. God has given us a mandate to serve Him in these last days and until His return, we should make every day in 2015 count for the cause of Christ.
I am not one who "makes" the worldy-inspired New Year's "resolutions" but I do believe that as a member of the Body of Christ there are some things every believer should do to redeem the time. What are they? Let's make a list:
1. Set aside daily a time to meet with the Lord in Bible study and prayer. Make it a personal habit to talk to the Lord and listen to the Lord.
2. Determine to live daily by biblical principles and sound doctrine.
3. Be involved in your local church. Don't just attend, commit to an active role and participate in all of the ministries and Bible studies of your church. Don't let "life" interfere with your commitment to your local church family.
4. Commit yourself to being a good steward of your time, resources and finances by giving to the Lord your tithe in every area. As Christians we should understand that absolutely everything we have is from Him and we owe Him everything.
5. Become a disciple. Find a more mature believer to disciple you and become an accountability partner to you. Then commit to becoming a disciple to a less mature believer. (Men to men, and women to women)
6. Learn to trust the Lord in everything. He has promised to take care of you and provide everything you need. When it seems everyone or everything is against you, when your burdens seem to be too big for you to carry, trust in Him!
7. Set personal goals for ministry and service in your church family. Be ready to challenge yourself to stretch beyond your "comfort zone" as you follow His will for your life and the life of your church family. Make a plan to accomplish your goals.
8. Never fear your past whatever it held, let past failures be put under the blood of Christ and allow God to use your future. Determine every day to serve God and let Him establish your future.
9. Support your pastors and follow the leadership of the shepherds God has placed before your church family. These men have uniquely been chosen by God, and understand the gravity of the responsibility they have before God as leader servants in the local church. In his shepherd role your pastor will be held to a higher standard of accountability for the way he follows God, and the way the members of the local church family follow his leadership as pastor-teacher.
10. Be excited that you are living in these times. As Christians we live in the most exciting time that this earth has experienced. The signs of the times are very clear and we can say with certainty that "our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." The Rapture is imminent and Jesus is coming soon! Live every day believing that this could be the day.
Redeem the time in 2015! Let this be the year in your life that you walk closer to the Lord than ever before. Let this be the year when you serve the Lord with all of your heart, mind, and soul; let this be the year when others can say without reservation that they see Christ in you.
Redeem the time!
Dr. Tuck Whitaker
Rafter Cross Ministries
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